Pressing machine



P 194@- s. GOLDSTEIN 2,197,613

mwssiwe MACHINE Filed July 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llll AP 16 1940. s GQLDSTEIN Q 2,197,613

PRESSING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR Patented Apr. 16, 1940 earl-1N1 oFFicE 2,197,613 rnsssmo MACHINE Samuel Goldstein, New York, N. Y.

Application July 23, 1938, Serial No. 220,862

7 Claims;

This invention relates to pressing machines of the character used for pressing articles of wearing apparelfojr portions thereof, such as seams, pockets, arm-hole p'ortionsor the like, and has 5, for its main object the provision of a machine of this character which will effectively perform the functions for which it is intended with a minimum of manual effort on the part of the operator.

m Another object of the invention is to provide means in a machine of this character, for either automatically or manually applying a vacuum or suction to theinterior of the buck upon which the articlebeing pressed is supported, for

15 the prompt removalof the moisture from the garment, upon lifting movement of the pressing iron.

Another object of the invention is to provide in amachine of the character described, an improved means for regulating'the extent of pressure imposed by the pressing iron on the buck, such adjustable means being available at a convenient location on the machine whereby it may beoperated without inconvenience on the part 25 of the operator.

Other objects'of the invention are attained by the improved machine, a particular description of which will be set forth hereinafter and be more particularly pointed out in the claims ap- 80 pended hereto.

In the accomp'anying drawings forming a part hereof, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine with some parts in section, and other parts broken away, to disclose construction; Fig,

35 2 is a planview of the machine; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the'machine; Fig. 4

is a sectional View onthe line 6-4 of Fig. 3,

looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig.

is a sectional view on the'line 55-5 of Fig, 3, on looking in the direction of the arrows.

The elements of the machine are either mounted in or sup-ported by the frame which includes a horizontal top or table portion 1, sides 2, supportingfeet 3 and afront plate It, the entire frame being preferably, but not necessarily in theform of a casting. Mounted above the top of the table I on a hollow pedestal or similar support'll'is the buck ll which may be of any suitable shape to effectively accommodate the garment or portions or the garment or other article to be pressed. The buck 4 is of hollow constructionand is formed with an upper chamher 5 anda lower steam chamber 1. The top of the buck is provided with a plurality of per- ,forations 3 in the conventionalmanner throughv ating handle l3, the iron being universally piv- 10 oted at l4 in the end of a bar l5 slidably mounted in arm IS. The arm I6 is pivoted on vertical pivot IT in the end of a pivoted pressure arm l8, said arm I3 being pivotally mounted at IS in the bosses 23 (Fig. 2) extending upwardly from the top l of the frame. Arm (8 has its lower end pivotally connected at 2| to one end of a short link 22 which has its opposite end pivoted at 23 to one end of a lever 2G. Lever 24 is pivoted between its ends at 25a. to the lower end of a suspension link 26 having its upper end pivotedat 21 in bearing 28, formed on the underside of the top I of the frame. Near one of its ends, the lever 24 is pivotally connected at '25 to the upper end of a link 29 which has its lower end pivoted at 30 to a treadle 3|. At its rear end, the treadle 3i is formed with a clevis 32 (Fig. 4)' pivotally mounted on the shaft 33, supported in the bosses 34 on the sides 2 of the frame near the base thereof. A spring 35 has one end extending through an eye 36 on the underside of the top I of the frame, and its other end connected to the pin 31 securedin the end of lever 24 near pivot 25. Through the mechanism thus far described, it will be apparent that when the foot plate 38, provided at the free end of the treadle 3|, is depressed, link 29 will be drawn downwardly, said movement exerting a downward pull onthe pivot 25 in lever 24, the opposite end of lever 24 rising to swing the lower portion of arm I8 rearward-1 Q ly on an upward arc to cause arm [6 to bring the pressing iron l2 downwardly toward the 'buck 4. The means for adjusting the pressure of the iron 12 against a garment resting on the buck 4 will now be described. 45

At 39 is'shown .an adjusting link which has one of its ends pivotally connected at 40 tothe dependent link 26 at a point between the pivots 25a and 21. The opposite end of adjusting link 29 receives the threaded end 4i ofan adjusting screw 42, which is freely rotatably mounted in the front plate 10 of the machine and in member 41 and is provided with a handwheel 43 located at the front of the machine above the foot plate,

38 of the treadle so that it is convenient for manipulation, whenever desired.

It will be obvious that by rotation of the hand wheel 43, the threaded end 4| moving through the end of the adjusting link 39 may move the adjusting link longitudinally either to or from the front of the machine. When the adjusting link 39 is moved toward the front of the machine by rotation of hand wheel 43, it will swing the link 26 on its pivot 21 in the same direction, this action tending to exert a similar pull on lever 24 which, through its connection with the lower end of arm 58 through link 22, will tend to swing said arm I8 on its pivot i9 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the pressing iron 52 will be elevated and adjusted in a direction away from the buck. Thus, when pressure is applied on the treadle 38 to lower the iron It, a lighter pressure of the pressing iron l2 on the buck will take place.

When the adjusting wheel 43 is rotated in a direction opposite to that just described or in other words, away from the front of the machine, a reverse action occurs. That is to say, the pressing iron is brought closer to the upper face of the buck and greater pressure of the iron thereon will follow when the treadle 3| is depressed. Thus, by. simple manipulation of the hand wheel 43, conveniently located at the front of the machine, adjustment of the pressure imposed by the pressing iron |2 upon the buck can be had. I am aware that prior tothis invention, adjustment means has been provided in pressing machines 7 for regulatingthe pressure, but such adjusting elements a'nd particularly the manually adjustable portions thereof, were inconveniently located and could only be operated with difficulty and delay-by the operator. My improved adjusting means is located at the front of the machine where, by simple turning of the wheel 43, hand adjustment of the pressing iron |2 over the goods supported by the buck can be attained.

A spring 44 surrounds the adjusting screw 4| and exerts friction to hold the screw in any set position of adjustment. 7

When the foot plate 38 of the treadle is depressed, means ;is provided for holding the treadle in such depressed position, as shown in Fig. l,

, for any. desired period of time. Such means includes a gravity-operated latch member 45, pivoted at 46 at its upper endin supporting lugs 41, secured on the front H] of the machine. Said latch member 45 is shaped to straddle the adjusting link 39 and at its lower end is provided with the adjustable rod 48 arranged to have its lower end 49 engage one or' the other of the notches 56 provided on the topof the treadle 3| to hold the treadle in its depressed position. When the treadle 3| is depressed as shown in Fig. 1 by foot pressure imposed on the foot plate 38, latch member 45 will swing by gravity toward the right, when viewed as in Fig. 3, and the lower end 49 will engage in one or the other of the notches 56 on the treadle 3|, the notch engaged being determined by the thickness of the goods then being pressed. When the latch member 45'so engages one of the notches and is in position shown in Fig. 1, it will hold the treadle down or in its depressed position as long as desired by the operator. I

For releasing the latch member, I provide a bell-crank lever 5| which is pivoted at 52 between the walls of the slot 53 formed in-treadle 3| near the foot plate 38 thereon. The bell-crank lever 5| is formed weighted end 54 which rides against a downwardly-extending lug or plate 55 provided on the latch member 45. Bell-crank lever 5| has another arm 56 formed with an upturned end terminating in a button 51 movable through an opening 58 formed in the foot plate 38 of treadle 3|. When foot plate 38 is depressed, the foot of the operator at the same time extends over and so depresses button 51 and this serves to swing the weighted end 54 toward the right as viewed in Fig. l, to permit the latch member 45 to also swing toward the right by gravity and engage one of the notches 56.

When it is desired to permit the treadle 3| to rise and correspondingly move the pressing iron l2 away from the buck, the foot plate 38 of the treadle (but not button 51) is pressed downwardly near its free end for a slight distance, to permit the end 49 of the latch member to swing toward the left under pressure of the weighted end 54 of the bell-crank lever 5|, thus releasing the end 49 of the latch member from its engagement with one of the notches 56, and enabling the treadle 3| to be drawn upward under the pull of the spring 35. Y

It will thus be clear that by foot pressure imposed on the foot plate 38, at the same time (16- pressing the button 51, the treadle 3| will be forced downward to its lowered position, indicated at 5|, which action causes the pressing iron |2 to descend upon the buck with pressure governed by the regulating screw 4|. The latch member 45 automatically engaging one of the notches 50, will hold the treadle in its depressed position as long as desired until the free end of the treadle is depressed, permitting the latch member to swing free of its engagement with the notch 56 under the pressure of the weighted end 54 of the lever 5|.

The upper chamber 5 of the buck 4 communicates with a pipe 66 having its lower end connected to a valve chamber 6|, in which valve 62 is mounted. A pipe or tube 63 connects the valve chamber with a suitable vacuum pump. Valve 62 is provided with a stem 64 which extends out of chamber 6| and is surrounded by spring 65 serving to normally hold valve 62 in closed position, thereby closing communication between.

chamber 5 and the vacuum pump. The lower end of the stem 64 is pivotally connected at 66 to one end of a lever 61 which has its other end freely mounted on the pivot pin 36 extending through the treadle 3|. Lever 61 is formed with with an upwardlyv extending a laterally extending lug 68 that overlies the top of an arm 69 on a foot-operated lever 15 mounted on the pivot pin 52. Said lever has another arm 16 provided with a foot plate 1| located at one side of the foot plate 38 of treadle 3|. The arm 16 is provided with a projecting lug 12 which extends beneath the foot plate 38 and is adapted to be contacted by a set screw 13, threaded downwardly through the plate 38 and caused to bear against the lug 12. A spring 14 surrounding the set screw 13 holds it in any selected position of adjustment.

Briefly, the operation of the machine is as follows: I

The operator places the article to be pressed over the buck 4 in the conventional manner and applies foot pressure on the foot plate 38, his foot at the same time extending over and depressing the button 51. As the treadle 3| descends, under the pressure so imposed upon it,

latch member 45 swings to the right as viewed in 11;

Fig. 3 and its lower end 49 falls into engagement with one of the notches 50 in the top of. the treadle 3!. The device is then in the position shown in Fig. l where it will be seen thatthe treadle is held in its lowered or depressed position by the latch member 45, as just explained.

As the treadle descends, it carries with it the lever l5 bringing the endof arm 69 thereof away from the lug 68 on lever 61 so that during the descent of and in its lowered position, the treadle 3! does not alter the position of valve 62 Which remains closed. The descent of the treadle 3| brings the pressing iron [2 down on top of the goods with the desired pressure, regulated according to the adjustment of adjusting screw 4! and the operator can now manually move the pressing iron over the surface of the buck as desired, to press the article on the buck.

When the pressing is completed, the operator presses downward on the free end of foot plate 36 slightly, to disengage the latch. member 45 from the notch 50, to thus permit, as previously explained, the treadle 3! to rise. As the treadle rises, the free end portion of arm 89 on lever 15 contacts lug t8 and swings lever Bl slightly upwardly on its pivot 30, to cause the valve stem 64 to be raised and the valve 62 to be opened, as shown in Fig. 3. Vacuum or suction exerted through the valve chamber 6! and pipe 60 draws moisture in the garment down through the holes 6 and out of chamber 5. The operation of the vacuum means just described, is primarily governed by means of the adjusting screw 13, and the setting of the same. That is to say, if the set screw 13 is unthreaded upwardly for a certain distance, the arm 69 on lever 65 will drop down by gravity and away from the lug 68 so that as the treadle 3! rises, the arm 69 will not contact with the lug and will not open the valve. Thus, by the setting of the set screw 13 the automatic operation of the valve opening means can be dispensed with. When the set screw 13 is adjusted as just explained, the operator can, however, at any time desired, impose pressure on the foot plate ll of lever i5, causing the arm 69 to rise and lift the valve stem to open the valve. If he desires the valve to be automatically opened upon rising of the treadle, this can be done by the proper setting of set screw '13 which will bring the arm 69 of lever 15 in proper position to contact lug 68 as the treadle is raised to cause the Valve to be opened.

The treadle 3i is provided with a bumper Bil which contacts against the lower end of link 26, said bumper being provided with a soft terminal portion 8i to contact with the end of link 26 as the treadle 3| rises.

With the machine described, the mode of operation is simplified considerably. The stroke of the foot lever or treadle being extremely short, the constant high lift of the foot required of operators in operating a machine of this type, is eliminated. While standing at the front of the machine, the operator can immediately, by simple rotation of the hand wheel, regulate the pressure imposed by the pressing iron to suit any particular portion of a garment or type of garment being pressed. He can also, by simple foot manipulation, provide automatic vacuum operation upon the rise of the treadle, this being found desirable by fast operators. At the same time, by simple adjustment of the set screw 13, manual control of the vacuum is had, so that the vacuum can be applied at any time during the pressing operation by the operator.

of the frame, the lever being pivotally connected 1 to said link, an adjusting member connected to the link, and means for adjusting said member back or forth in the frame to thereby shift the point pivotal connection of the lever to the link forwardly or rearwardly in the frame, and thereby move the pressing iron to or from the buck ccording to the position of the adjusting meme her. a 2. In a pressing machine, a frame, a buck mounted thereon, a pressing iron located above the buck, a pivoted arm on the frame carrying the pressing iron at one end and having a lower end extending downwardly in the frame, a treadle mounted in the frame, a pivoted link depending downwardly in the frame, a lever connection between the lower end of said link and the lower end of the pressing iron supporting arm, means connecting said lever with the treadle whereby depression of the treadle will cause the pressing iron to be moved toward the buck, an adjusting member connected to the link between its pivot and its connection to the lever, and means for regulating the position of said adjusting member to cause the same to shift the link on its pivot and thereby control the position of the pressing iron with respect to the buck.

3. In a pressing machine, a buck, a pressing iron mounted above the buck, means for supporting the iron and moving it to or from the buck, said means including a treadle adapted to be depressed to bring the iron toward the buck, means for holding said treadle in depressed position comprising a pivoted latch mounted above the treadle and having an end adapted to move into a position above the treadle to prevent rise of the same, and a gravity-operated latch-control member pivoted on and carried by the treadle and acting to push the latch out of locking position when the treadle is pushed downwardly independently of the latch-control lever.

4. In a pressing machine, a buck, a pressing iron mounted above the buck, means for supporting the iron and moving it to and from the buck, said means including a pivoted treadle adapted to be depressed to bring the iron toward the buck, means for retaining the treadle in depressed position, said means comprising a pivoted latch member mounted above the treadle and having a dependent free lower end adapted to engage the treadle to prevent rise of the treadle when the treadle is in a depressed position, a

latch control lever pivoted on the treadle and adapted for simultaneous foot depression in company with the treadle to thereby hold said control lever in an inoperative position during depression of the treadle to permit the latch to move by gravity into treadle-locking position, and means on the control lever for moving the latch out of locking engagement with the treadle when the treadle is moved downwardly independently of the control lever while the latch is in position of treadle engagement.

5. In a pressing machine, a buck, a pressing iron mounted thereover, means for moving the iron to or from the buck including a pivoted treadle, a latch pivoted above the treadle and of the treadle to permit the latch to operatively engage the treadle, said control member being mounted for movement independently of the treadle whereby it may be rendered operative by downward movement of the treadle independently of the control member 6. In a pressing machine, a buck, a pressing iron mounted above the buck, means for moving the pressing iron to and from the buck, said means including a treadle, means for creating suction Within the buck to draw out moisture from a garment being pressed thereon, a valve interposed between the suction-creating means and the interior of the buck, means for normally 1 holding the valve in closed position, and means for automatically opening the valve at a predetermined point in the movement of the treadle, said valve opening means including a pivoted lever carried by the treadle for opening the valve, I

and means also carried by the treadle for rendering said lever inefiective to open the valve during the movement of the treadle.

7. In a pressing machine, a buck and a pressing iron, means for moving the pressing iron to and from the buck, said means including a foot-operated treadle, means for creating suction within the buck to draw out moisture from a garment being pressed thereon, a valve for controlling the suction, means for normally holding the valve closed, means carried by the treadle and controlled by the movement thereof for opening the valve at a point in the movement of the treadle when the pressing iron is raised from the buck, and means for rendering the valve-opening means ineffective during treadle movement, but permitting independent manual operation of said valve-opening means to open the valve during movement or'while the treadle is in a position of pause.

SAMUEL GOLDSTEIN. 

